Mobility assistance apparatus

Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Canes – sticks – crutches – and walking aids – Tips

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C135S066000, C135S069000, C135S084000, C623S049000, C623S055000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07954502

ABSTRACT:
An improved mobility assistance apparatus for use by a person as a walking aid, e.g. a cane, crutch, or walker, has a support capable of bearing vertical forces during use of the apparatus as a walking aid and a resilient device connected to a lower portion of the support for ground engagement. The device has a dynamic response characteristic to forces associated with ambulating using the apparatus as a walking aid which generates propulsive force to aid mobility. Two coiled springs are monolithically formed with the device at an upper end thereof. A flexible elongated member is connected to a radially inner, free end of each of the coiled springs and extends about a return at a lower portion of the device for resiliently expanding the coiled springs to store energy with force loading of the apparatus during use and to release stored energy during force unloading to generate propulsive force to aid mobility. The dorsiflexion moment of the resilient device is an order of magnitude greater than a plantarflexion moment thereof to mimic human ankle joint function.

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